Performed by China Central Ballet Troupe, the show deeply attracted the western audiences. [Photo/Hexun.com]

Among the audiences, there were many Chinese Finlanders as well. Jiang Jin, a young I.T. professional told Chinese media that for their generation, they just heard of the Red Detachment of Women from their parents, but had never watched it before.

"Now, I felt really excited to have a firsthand experience of such an excellent performance overseas in Helsinki," he said.

In the interview after the performance, Erik Söderblom said that Finnish audiences seldom had a chance to see such a magnificent Chinese ballet show, so it was not strange that it attracted thousands of people.

"It is the first time in the 40 years' history of the Helsinki Festival to have mass Chinese cultural activities. Our audiences are curious about Chinese culture and Chinese performances," he added.

During the press conference in Beijing in early August, Erik once said that one third of the programs in the Helsinki Festival this year came from China. From August 14 to August 31, twenty Chinese programs will be presented and more than 400 actors are expected to participate in the event.

In addition, with the theme of "Genuine China: Linking Past and Future", the Focus China project covers 13 categories ranging from movies to ballet performances, visual arts to Chinese intangible cultural heritages.

"This is the window for us to learn about China in a comprehensive way," said Tarja Kangaskorte, deputy head at Finnish embassy in Beijing. She said she hopes the Focus China project will further promote "people-to-people exchanges" between the two countries.

The Helsinki Festival, established in 1968, is an important arts festival in Europe, and is the biggest in Northern Europe. Held in middle and late August, it aims to promote art to citizens. It attracts about 200, 000 audience members every year.